Sitz bath for toilet seat



Feb. 10, 1959 'G. E. OSBORN ETAL 2,

SITZ BATH FOR TOILET SEAT FiledNov. 8', 195a iii? 44 George E. Osborn Harry 0. Matthews INVENTORS 94 BY F W -mg,

a J 1 r it fit this SITZ BATH FGR TOEET SEAT George E. @sborn and Henry C. Matthews, Saginaw, Mich.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in apparatus for therapeutic treatment and more specifically to an improved sitz bath.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved sitz bath which is so constructed whereby it may be taken to the bed of the patient to be treated, the patient seated thereon and then wheeled back to a lavatory and seated over a toilet bowl where water may be continuously circulated through a tub thereof to eifect the desired therapeutic treatment.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved sitz bath which includes a supporting frame having mounted in the upper part thereof a tub, the tub being disposed at a height to overlie a toilet bowl and being provided with an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting, the outlet fitting being so disposed whereby it will drain water into a toilet bowl so that water may be continuously circulated through the tub during the therapeutic treatment.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved sitz bath, the sitz bath being of the portable type and being intended to have a tub thereof overlying a toilet bowl, the sitz bath being provided with suitable anchoring means for securing the same to a toilet bowl to retain the tub in overlying relation to the toilet bowl.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved sitz bath which includes a supporting frame, the supporting frame having mounted in the upper part thereof a tub, there being carried by the supporting frame spaced straps which have intermediate portions depending into the tub for the purpose of supporting a patient relative to the tub.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sitz bath and shows it mounted with respect to a toilet bowl;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure 1 and shows thespecific details of construction of the sitz bath and the relationship thereof with respect to a toilet bowl when in use;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and shows further the details of construction of the tub and the relationship of the patient supporting straps with respect to the tub; and a Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the sitz bath with portions broken away in order to show the manner in" which a rear strap supporting bar is mounted with respect'to the supporting frame.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a sitz bath which is the Fatent subject of this invention, the sitz bath being referred to in general by the reference number 10. The sitz bath 10 includes a supporting frame 12 and a tub 14.

The supporting frame 12 includes an inverted U-shaped rear frame member 16 which is formed of vertical leg portions 18 connected by an upper transverse portion 20. The lower ends of the leg portions 18 are provided with casters 22.

The supporting frame 12 also includes inverted U-shaped side members 24. The side members 24 include forward vertical legs 26 and rear vertical connecting portions 28.. The vertical leg 26 and the vertical connecting portion 28 of each side member 24 are connected together by an upper, longitudinally extending portion 30. The vertical connecting portion 28 is secured to an upper part of the associated leg 18 by means of suitable fasteners 32. The lower end of the vertical leg 26 is provided with a caster 34 which is similar to the casters 22.

The legs 18 and 26 are braced by a horizontal, U-shaped frame member 36. The frame member 36 includes horizontal, longitudinally extending portions 38 which are connected together by a transverse rear portion 40. The longitudinally extending portions 38 terminate at their forward ends in depending portions 42. The depending portions 42 are secured to intermediate portions of the front legs 26 by means of fasteners 44.

The supporting frame 12 is completed by a transverse frame member 46 which extends between and connects together lower parts of the front legs 26, a front strap supporting bar 48 and a rear strap supporting bar 50. The front strap supporting bar 48, as is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, has the ends thereof overlying forward parts of the longitudinally extending portions 38 and is secured thereto by means of fasteners 52. The rear bar 50 is disposed in the same vertical plane as the transverse portions 20 and 40 and is carried by the transverse portion 40 in a manner best illustrated in Figure 4. The bar 50 is disposed above the transverse portion 40 and is secured thereto by means of a fastener 54 and a spacer 56. Incidentally, the horizontal frame member 36 is connected to the rear legs 18 by means of fasteners 58, as is best illustrated in Figure 4.

The tub 14 is generally rectangular in outline and includes a bottom wall 60. Extending upwardly from the bottom wall 68 along the side edges thereof are side walls 62. Extending upwardly along the rear edge of the bottom wall 60 is a rear wall 64. The tub 14 also includes a front wall 66 which is generally semicircular in cross section so as to form a splash guard.

In order that the tub 14 may be conveniently mounted in the supporting frame 12, the side walls 62 are provided at their upper edges with out-turned flanges 68.

The rear wall 64 is provided at its upper edge with a rearwardly directed flange 70. The flanges 68 and 70 are disposed in a common horizontal plane and the flanges 68 rest upon the longitudinal portions 30, while the flange 70 rests upon the transverse portion 20.

Extending longitudinally over the tub 14 is a pair of transversely spaced patient supporting straps 72. The straps 72 are provided at their forward ends with loops 74 through which is received the front bar 48. The straps 72 are also provided at their rear ends with loops 76 through which is passed the rear bar 50, as is best illustrated in Figure 2. It is to be noted that the straps 72 are of a length so that they depend into the tub 14 so that a patient seated on the straps 72 may be properly positioned for treatment of a rectal disorder. 7

In order that water may be' properly circulated through the tub 14 to effect a therapeutic treatment, there is carried by therear wall 64 an inlet fitting 78. The inlet I) fitting 78 has connected thereto a flexible water line 80 whose opposite ends (not shown) may be connected to a suitable water tap.

In order that water may be retained at a constant level in the tub 14, there is provided a pair of overflow fittings 82. The overflow fittings 82 are secured to the forward part of the bottom wall 60 and have rearwardly extending drain portions 84. The bottom wall 60 is also provided with a drain fitting 86 normally closed by a plug 88.

The sitz bath further includes a front shield 90 which terminates in a lower foot rest 92. The shield 90 is provided at its lower forward end with a curved portion 94 which is engaged over the transverse frame member 46. The shield 90 also includes side portions 96 which terminate in outwardly directed flanges 98 secured against the front legs 26 by the fasteners 44.

Illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is a conventional toilet which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 100. The toilet 100 includes a toilet bowl 102 and a flush tank 104. Connecting the flush tank 104 to the toilet bowl 102 is a pipe 106. The toilet bowl 102' is also provided with a seat 108 and a cover 110.

When it is desired to utilize the sitz bath 10, it is positioned relative to the toilet 100 in the manner best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. When so positioned, the tub 14 directly overlies the toilet bowl 102. It is to be noted that the tub 14 is vertically positioned so as to overlie the toilet bowl 102 once the seat 108 and the cover 110 have been raised. Further, the drains 84 and 86 are so located whereby water from the tub 14 may conveniently drain into the toilet bowl 102. Thus, while a patient is seated on the sitz bath 10 and receiving a therapeutic treatment, all the waste water will'run into the toilet bowl 102.

Because the supporting frame 12 includes casters 22 and 34, the sitz bath 10 is readily transportable. Thus, the sitz bath 10 may be rolled to a patients bedside to receive the patient. Then the patient is rolled back into the lavatory and the sitz bath 10 positioned with respect to the toilet bowl 102 as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In order to avoid accidental shifting of the sitz bath 10 with respect to the toilet bowl 102, there is carried by the transverse portion a strap 112. The strap 112 is passed about the pipe 106 to anchor the sitz bath 10 with respect to the toilet 100.

From the foregoing description of the sitz bath 10, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised a sitz bath which will provide for the comfortable seating of the patient during the therapeutic treatment and that water may be circulated through the tub 14 as desired without the question of draining the water arising. Further, the sitz bath 10 is of a relatively neat appearance and may be stored in any desired space.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. The combination of a water closet and a sitz bath wherein said sitz bath comprises a supporting frame, a tub carried by an upper part of said supporting frame, said tub being disposed at a height to overlie said water closet, spaced patient supporting straps carried by said supporting frame overlying said tub and depending partially thereinto, said tub including a fitting for attachment to a water tap, overflow means mounted in the bottom of said tub in such a position as not to interfere with a user, said overflow means adapted for directing water into the water closet whereby water may be cir- 4 culated through said tub and maintained at constant level, casters on said supporting frame rendering said supporting frame readily portable, strap means carried by said supporting frame for anchoring said supporting frame to and above said water closet.

2. The combination of a water closet and a sitz bath wherein said sitz bath comprises a supporting frame, a tub carried by an upper part of said supporting frame, said tub being disposed at a height to overlie said water closet, said tub having a flat bottom, side walls projecting upwardly from the side edges of said bottom and spaced apart a greater distance than the width of said water closet, a rear wall connected to said bottom and said side walls and an upwardly and inwardly curved front wall the upper edge of which overlies a portion of said flat bottom, spaced flexible and rearwardly extending patient supporting straps connected to said supporting frame at the forward and rearward portions thereof and overlying in engagement with and conforming to the contour of said curved forward wall and said rear wall whereby a comfortable seat is provided, said forward wall being spaced a distance from said rear wall to at least overlie the forward portion of said water closet, said tub including a fitting for attachment to a water tap communicating therewith, overflow means in said tub including an upwardly standing pipe projecting through said tub and underlying said forward curved wall so that a user is protected from injury by said pipe, and an offset pipe portion directing overflow toward the center of said water closet, ground engaging casters on the lower portion of said supporting frame rendering said frame mobile, and strap means carried by said frame for anchoring the tub later to said water closet and in position for the tub to overlie said closet.

3. The combination of a water closet and a sitz bath wherein said sitz bath comprises a supporting frame, a tub carried by an upper part of said supporting frame, said tub being disposed at a height to overlie said water closet, said tub having a flat bottom, side walls projecting upwardly from the side edges of said bottom and spaced apart a greater distance than the width of said water closet, a rear wall connected to said bottom and said side walls and an upwardly and inwardly curved front wall the upper edge of which overlies a portion of said flat bottom, spaced flexible and rearwardly extending patient supporting straps connected to said supporting frame at the forward and rearward portions thereof and overlying in engagement with and conforming to the contour of said curved forward wall and said rear wall whereby a comfortable seat is provided, said forward wall being spaced a distance from said rear wall to at least overlie the forward portion of said water closet, said tub including a fitting for attachment to a water tap communicating therewith, overflow means in said tub including an upwardly standing pipe projecting through said tub and underlying said forward curved wall so that a user is protected from injury by said pipe, and an offset pipe portion directing overflow toward the center of said water closet, ground engaging casters on the lower portion of said supporting frame rendering said frame mobile, and strap means carried by said frame for anchoring the tub later to said water closet and in position for the tub to overlie said closet, a splash shield extending downwardly along the forward portion of said frame whereby the legs of a user will be protected from splashes of water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 274,527 Stelle et al. Mar. 27, 1883 338,031 Brown Mar. 16, 1886 633,398 Straube Sept. 19, 1899 1,224,478 McNeil May 1, 1917 2,139,951 Gaston et al Dec. 13, 1938 2,251,039 Da Silva July 29, 1941 

